ASA partners with the City of Alexandria, Whole Foods, and YoKid Yoga to reach over 200 youth at two local Recreation Centers

Alexandria Soccer Association (ASA) and the City of Alexandria partnered for the second consecutive year to provide winter soccer training to over 200 youth at John Adams and Mount Vernon Recreation Centers in Alexandria.The program, known as the “Alexandria Winter After-School Program,” began in late January and concluded the last week of February.Over the course of the five-week program boys and girls ranging in ages from 5 – 12 years old were divided into age-specific groups and participated in two clinic-style soccer sessions per week; sessions were run by ASA’s own USSF/NSCAA professional coaches.

ASA was thrilled to add two new partners to the program this winter: The Whole Foods Market Old Town and YoKid Yoga of Alexandria.The Whole Foods Market Old Town joined up with ASA to provide a healthy eating and nutrition education element to the program.After each class, all participants received a healthy “snack of the week,” which included fruits like bananas and satsumas.Whole Foods also sent a healthy eating specialist who ran an interactive educational class about the importance of diet and nutrition for all of the after-school program participants.

YoKid Yoga of Alexandria introduced youth at both John Adams and Mount Vernon to the physical and mental benefits of yoga.During these classes, professional yoga instructors shared with all of the youth participants, basic yoga poses and the importance of fostering a greater self-awareness.The addition of YoKid brought an awesome element to the program that demonstrated a unique way to build the foundation of living a physically and mentally healthy lifestyle.

ASA continues to see the benefits of getting out in the community.In addition to exposing youth to positive healthy lifestyle classes, many of the highest need youth in the after-school programs have elected to participate in the recreation soccer league and programs. This will provide the kids with a longer term exposure to the game and all of the physical, social and mental benefits that come when playing on a team. The club is dedicated to providing all youth who are interested in playing to soccer to have the opportunity, regardless of their financial standing.If you are interested and capable of donating to help boost our community outreach programming or to our scholarship fund directly, please click DONATE TODAY!. To find out more specific information on our scholarship fund click here.ASA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.